LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- After one quarter, the Gophers led New Mexico State 3-0 on Saturday night. At halftime, that lead has been stretched to 27-7.

David Cobb and Rodrick Williams have rushed for touchdowns for Minnesota, and Marcus Jones had a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown, right before the teams went to the locker room. Jones had a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown in last week's victory over UNLV.

Minnesota's defense forced New Mexico State to punt on its first five possesions, holding the Aggies to one first down in that stretch.

The Aggies trimmed the lead to 13-7 with a 76-yard touchdown drive midway through the second quarter, but the Gophers came right back with a 72-yard touchdown drive.

Gophers cornerback Briean-Boddy Calhoun injured his left knee on the game's third play and was placed in a brace. Also, according to the Gophers sideline reporter Justin Gaard, tight end Maxx Williams was carted off the field during the first half.

Coach Jerry Kill told Gaard he was pleased with how his team played in this heat, as it was 87 degrees at kickoff.

Update: Gaard reported that Maxx Williams was taken off on the cart to have fluids, but the redshirt freshman is fine. Good news for the Gophers.

Joe Christensen covered Major League Baseball for 15 years, including three seasons at the Baltimore Sun and eight at the Star Tribune, before switching to the college football beat. He’s a Faribault, Minn., native who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1996. He covered Jim Wacker’s Gophers for the Minnesota Daily and also wrote about USC, UCLA and the Rose Bowl for the Riverside Press-Enterprise before getting this chance to cover football again. Email Joe to talk about the Gophers.